Nail-seal.



K. TAYLOR.

NAIL SEAL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11,1908

Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

UrwcM-foz witnesses 8 (fuzz KENNER TAYLOR, OF FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY.

N AIL-SE AL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Application filed July 11, 1908. Serial No. 443,039.

' Frankfort, in the county of Franklin. and

State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nail-Seals,

of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to nail seals.

In the transportation of certain classes of merchandise in packing cases, such, for example, as bottled whisky, it is not uncommon to find that cases have been opened, a portion of the goods removed and the cases restored to their original appearance. That can be easily done when common nails or screws are used in securing the arts of the packing case together; and the o ject of this invention is to adapt nails to seal u packing cases so securely that they cannot e opened in transit without so mutilating the case that both the common carrier and the consignee may readily see that it has been broken into. This evidence establishes a claim of the consignee against the common carrier for damages, and for loss if there has been pilfering.

To this end my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts forming a nail seal, hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents part of a packing case in vertical section, showing one of my nail seals in service. F ig. 2 shows the seal in vertical section, and a nail in side elevation, ready forthenail to be driven in. Fig.3 shows a punched blank for making the seal portion of sheet metal. Fig. 4 shows the blank with the toes turned back to thicken those portions and form bosses. Fig. 5 shows a finishedseal made of sheet metal. Fig. 6 represents a cross section at line a; of Fig. 2.

Numeral 10 represents the common steel wire finishing nail with a small head and wedge-shaped point. As sold on the market such nails are fully adapted for my use.

The body 11, of the seal, is cylindrical and has a bore or opening partly through its length to receive and fit. closely upon a nail 10, and it flares open at the top to receive the head of the nail. The flange 12, is the head of the seal. The lower end of the body is parted by slots 13, into a number of legs 14, preferably three, the ends of the legs being turned in to form the inwardly projecting bosses 17.

A portion of the top of a packing case is represented at 16, and the side at 15. In applying the seal, it is first necessary to bore a hole through the top 16; and down into the side 15, to receive the seal very tightly. The sealis to be driven in until its head countersinks into the top 16. Now if the nail be inserted and driven, its point, penetrating between the bosses 17, will spread the legs 14, apart, causing them to bond along the thin portions 18, and forcing their points outward into the wood of the case side 15. This operation is not likely to split the wood, because the leg oints are buried below the surface; but if the top were forced off, the wood must be torn to permit the Withdrawal of the seal either from the side or top. This tearing of the packing case would prevent its being restored beyond plain detection, and is the safeguard aimed at by this invention. The nail may be somewhat longer than the seal, and its head should be driven in below the surface of the head 12, to prevent getting hold of-the head to Withdraw the nail. The enlarged head of the common nail revents its being driven through the seal to ee 1t.

For economy of construction these seals are preferably made of sheet metal A blank is first to be punched out and sllt to form legs, as shown in Fig. 3 then the ends of the legs are to be folded back upon one face as at 20. Then'a die having V-s 1a ms to enter the slots between the legs, is to e struck upon this blank, spreading open one face of the slots and giving V-shape to the ends 2( folded over on the legs. Then the blank 1s to be rolled into cylindrical form and the flange 12, is to be made by a blow from a die,

forming the head. It may be enlarged under the head at 19 if required. The finlshed seal is shown at Flg. 5.

These seals may be made at small cost, and, considering the immunity from pilfering that they would insure, and the annoyance to consign0r and consignee that they would prevent, their utility cannot be questioned.

Having thus described my invention, what folded back upon themselves,. forming in- I believe to be new, and desire to secure by wardly projecting bosses. 1t

Letters Patent is the following: In testimony whereof I aflfix my signature In nail seals, a cylindrical seal ortion havin presence of two Witnesses.

ing a flanged head and an opening along its KEN NER TAYLOR.

uFper portion to receive the body and head Witnesses:

o a nail, and parted into legs along its lower GRAOIE TICHENOR,

portion; the legs having their lower ends VTHOS. A. HALL. 

